Inlet for paper making machines



June 16, 1931. F. HYILSHEIMER INLET FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed April 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l swam Mo's June 16, 1931. F. HILSHEIMER INLET FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed April 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1931. HlLsHElMER 1,809,937

INLET FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed April 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 6 i I YT HI W-7" iii 1 II Fly. 7

gnwzntoc Erraaf 19716726277262" Patented June 16, 1931 TES UNITED STA FORREST mnsnnmnn,

OF GHILLICOTHE, OHIO INLET FOB- PAPER MAKING Application filed April 20,

This invention relates to improvements in paper making machines and has particular reference to an im roved inlet mechanism for governing the ow ofthe substantially liquid paper forming stock onto the wire belt or carrier of machines of this type.

Itis a primary object of the invention to provide an inlet mechanism having novel features of adjustment whereby improved regulation in the matter of distributing the paper stock on the wire carrier or belt is attained. v

A further object resides in constructing the inlet so'that a maximum flow of the paper stock is afl'orded and yet the quality of the finished paper is maintained and, in fact,

im roved. I

nother object of the invention resides in the provision of an inlet mechanism formed to include a slice formed from a relatively flexible material and' wherein provision is made for adjusting the slice vertically relative to the'stock receiving wire and for flexing the slice in a vertical plane so asto control the eflective distance between the lower edge of the slice and the wire which distance comprises a space of variable proportions through which the paper forming stock passes y from the flow box in an even uniformly (118- tributed layer out upon the wire belt or apron of the'machine'. 7

It is another object f the invention to provide a novel supporting means for the flex-.

ible slice so thatthe latter may be distorted or flexed longitudinally of-its length to vary the distance. between the lower edge of the slice and the Fourdrinier wire and to permit this adjustment to beaccomplished during the operation of the machine, whereby the. inlet or slicefmay be adapted readily to the character of the paper forming stock-to prevent the formation of streaks in the finished paper byproperly spreading thestock on the wire and admitting of uniform-outflow thereof over the full width of the wire.

Still a further objectflof the invention-resides in an inlet mechanism capable of swinging bodily from active to inactive positions or vice versa, andin the provision of Iancillary mechanism for adjusting the slice 1929. Serial No. 356,804.

bar about horizontal axis to provideforminute adjustment in the spacing of the lower edge of the slice relative to the apron, thesaid latter adjustment being rendered possible independently of the ad] usting means for flexing the slice bar longitudinally.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the lnvention consists'in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claims. Y i In the accompanying drawings: 7 Figure 1 is a wow partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a portion of a'Fourdrinier paper making machine showing the application and construction of the improved inlet mechanism comprising the present invention,

Figure 2 is'a top plan view of. the inlet mechanlsm,

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof,

Flgure 4:is a 'verticalsectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3, I 7 v i Figure 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Figure-3,

Figure 6 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale showlng one of the adjusting devices for flexing the slice bar,

Figure is a vertical sectional View taken through said device-on the line 77'of Figure6,and

Figure 8 is .a side elevation of the machine showing more. particularly the actuating mechanism; for swinging. the inlet bodily from active to inactive positions 7 p p .The present mventlon 1n 1ts referred embodiment s particularly app icable to the so-called Foui'drinier type ofpaper'making machine'j As is well known by those versed in the-art, in a machine of this type the pulp,

or other fibrous material consisting of paper 'rnaking stock, is supplied in solution form to a flow or head box, whence it is fed through an-openi-ngof variable proportions, at a desired rate, acrossa flow directing apron upon a traveling wire belt. This belt is preferably of the endless variety and is-trained around two spaced rolls, the roll near the flow box or inlet end being ordinarily referred to as the breast roll, and. the roll at the other or discharge end of the belt being commonly called the couch roll.

In the several figures of the accompanying drawings the flow or head box is designated by the letter A. The outlet of this box is provided with the usual apron B and the Fourdrinier wire or belt'C extends around the breast roll D, the upper peripheral portion of which is disposed substantially in the horizontal plane of the apron B. A deckel strap is indicated by the letter E and passes as usual around the pulley F located above the breast roll D. The inlet mechanism comprising the present invention is designated in its entirety by the character G and op- I erates in con unction with the outlet of the flow or head box A to regulate the feeding of the liquid paper stock on. the wire G.

The distribution of the paperstock on the wire C is a matter of very great importance in obtaining successful and economical operation of paper machines of this kind. It is, of course,- desirable first to provide a mech-.

anism so constructed as to permit the fibrous paper forming stock to distribute itself uniformly and evenly over the full width of the wire so that the fibers will be properly matted and inter-weaved to produce a paper of uniform grade, devoid of streaks and of desir- 1, when in an active position, is arranged in a' able strength and other properties, and, second, to provide for a rapid feeding of the paper stock on the wire to the end of obtaining the maximum output'of the machine consistent, of course, with the formation of a,

good grade of paper. It is to the attaining of these general ends that the present invention is directed. p

In the specific form of the inlet mechanism herein selected for illustration use is made of a plate 1 which is pivotally mounted as at 2 in connection with the outlet.3 of the head box A. In this connection the shaft 2 extendsthrough openings provided in the sides of the head box and has one .or more of its ends equipped with a worm gear/i arranged, as shown in Figure 8, to engage with aworm 5 provided in connection with anoperating shaft 6. By the manipulation of the shaft 6, the plate 1 may be rocked about the horizontal pivot 2 so that the inlet mechanism may be swung to active and inactive positions for purposes which will later appear. The plate plane above the apron B, to constitute in conjunction with said apron an extension ofthe outlet 3 for the purpose of directin the liquid paper stock upon the wire passing around the roll D. The frame is provided with side walls 7 which serve to confine the liquid' paper stockwithin the limits .of the outlet andin addition-use is also made in the conventional manner of the deckel straps E for the guiding of the paper stock and its retention on the wire C.

Theplate 1 projects horizontally and forwardly toa distance beyond a vertical center line passing through the wire D. The forward edge of the plate is received within a longitudinally extending groove 8 formed in a bearing rod 9 which is riveted orotherwise secured as at 10 to the edge of the plate 1. Engaging With the outer portion of the rod 9 is a longitudinally extending bar' to rock about the longitudi'nal axis of the rod 9 and is held in bearing engagement with said rod by means of an arcuate plate 12 which is secured to the front surface of the.

base member 11. The 'plate 12 is arranged to sli'dingly engage with the inner arcuate surface 12a of the stationary rack members 12?) carried by the plate 1. By this construction a pivotal support forthe base member is provided by which said base may be turned to various positions of adjustment about a substantially fixed horizontally extending ax1s., c 7

. The slide further includes a bar or blade 13 formed from flexible material such as bakelite, hard rubber, {phenol composition board or other similar semi-flexible, acid re-- sisting materials. 'llhe blade is supported upon the outer vertical wall li of the base member 11 by means of a plurality of spaced brackets 15, secured to said wall. Each of these brackets is provided with a threaded bore'disposed vertically for; the reception of the "right-hand threads provided upon an adjusting screw 16. The shank of each of the screws 16 is formed with an internal bore provided with left-hand threads and adapted for the reception of similarly threaded shank 17 having an enlarged head 18 at the lowerend thereof. This head is received within ailongitudinallyextending groove 19 formed in the outer wall of the. flexible blade 13. It will be seen that by turning manually the screws 16 vertical traveling'motion will be imparted to theshanks 17 and since the latterhave engagement with the blade 13 'through the medium of the heads 18 and the grooves 19' it follows that the blade 13 may be flexed. or distorted in a vertical plane,

thereby varying the distance between the lower edge 20 ofthe blade 13 and the wire s. i

C which constitutes the feeding space, and is designated by the numeral 21, through which the paper pulp'fldws from the head box on to the wire C. The brackets 15-include spaced depending wings 22 which engage with the outer face of the blade .13 and confine the blade to vertical adjustment between said brackets and the base member 11. By adjusting the screws 16the spaces 21 may be varied in height throughout the length of the slice or inlet, thus providing for increased flow area in one part and restricted flow area in another part of the slice. These conditions are determined in practice by the condition of the pulp on the screen or wire. If it appears thin in spots and streaky adjustments are made to permit of greater flow of the pulp where the thin condition appears and, conversely, if the pulp appears to be too thick at a certain area, the screws 16 may be operated to diminish the thickness of the space to prevent such undesired conditions.

In addition to the foregoing. adjustment obtained by the flexing of the blade 13 a further adjustment is secured by swinging the slice H bodily about the axis of the rod 9. To permit this to be done with great delicacy of control, the rack members 12?) are provided with arcuately arranged teeth 24, the latter being disposed about the axis of the rod 9. Engaging with the teeth 24 are pinions 2 carried by a transversely extending shaft 26. This shaft is journaled in connection with bearings carried by'the base member 11. By turning the shaft 26 through the medium of the handles 22 the entire slice may oscillate about-the axis of the rod 9 to vary the distance between the lower edge of the blade 13 and the belt C. 'When it is desired to move the inlet to an inactive position it is swung bodily about the axis 2. This latter adjustment, however, is a rough or quick one, whereas the gear and rack mechanism is utilized for the purpose of regulating the height of the space 21 and the consequent thickness of the paper stock on the wire C.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides an inlet mechanism for Fourdrinier paper making machines wherein many improved adjustments are provided for regulating the character and form of the flow space between the slice and the wire. It will be observed that the slice is positioned well in advance of the center line passing vertically through the breast roll. This is done in order that the paper stock may engage with the wire at the time it passes through the distributing and thickness determining opening 21 formed between the slice and the wire. This arrangement also provides for suflic'ient hydrostatic pressure on the liquid stock to insure a maximum and proper delivery thereof through the regulating opening or space 21. My present invention provides a paper machine inlet which admits of high working speeds and at the same time provides such case and convenience in the matter of regulation and control as to obtain a paper of uniform thickness, texture and of requisite mechanical strength.

/ hat is claimed is:

1. An inlet for paper making machines comprising a support, a slice formed to in clude a base member and a flexible blade member, adjusting means between said base and blade members admitting of the flexing of the latter in a vertical plane, and means admitting of the swinging of said slice bodily about a horizontal axis carried in conjunction with said support.

2. In a paper making machine, a breast roll, aFourdrinier wire trained around said breast roll, a flow box including an outlet arranged in registration with said wire, a plate pivotally carried in connection with said outlet and disposed in spaced relation above said wire, and a slice pivotally carried by the outer edge of said plate and disposed to occupy a substantially vertical plane arranged beyond the center line of said breast roll.

3. In a paper making machine, a stock feeding inlet comprising a support, a slice pivotally connected to the outer edge of said support for turning movement about a substantiallyhorizontally disposed axis, said slicebeing formed to comprisestationary and flexible members, means admitting of the flexing of the flexible member locally in the plane of the stationary member,.a rack member carried by said support, and means carried by said shoe and engageable with said rack member to admitof bodily swinging adjustment of the slice about said horizontal axis.

4. In a paper making. machine, a stock feeding inlet comprising a support, means admitting of bodily'swinging movement of said support from active to inactive positions, a slice pivotally connected with the outer edge of said support for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis, said slice comprising a rigid and a flexible member, adjusting devices admitting of the flexing of said flexible member in the plane of said rigid member, and means admitting of bodily swinging movement of said slice about the horizontal pivotal connection between the'slice and said support.

5. A stock feeding inlet for paper making machines comprising a support, a rigid member pivotally connected with said support for turning movement about a substantially horizontal axis, a flexible blade carried in conjunction with said rigid member, adjusting devices carried by said rigid memberand arranged in longitudinally spaced order, said devices being operable to admit of the localized flexing of said blade in planes parallel to said rigid member, and a rack member carried by said support and gear mechanism carried by said rigid member and co-operative with said rack for admitting of the bodily swinging movement of said rigid member and flexible blade about the outer edge of said support.

6. In a paper making machme, a slice plate mounted for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a flexible blade for the lower edge of said plate, and adjusting means carried by said plate and cooperv ating with said blade for adjusting the latter relative to said plate towards and away from said axis.

-7. In a paper making machine, a breast roll, a Fourdrinier wire trained around. said roll, a. flow box including an outlet arranged in registration with said wire, a plate carried in connectionwith said outlet, a slice pivotally carried by the outer edge of said plate for swinging movement and adjustment about a substantially horizontal axis, a flexible blade carried by the lower edge of said slice, and

means admitting of adjustment of said blade relative to and in theplane of said slice, whereby the slice and blade due to their adjusting means may jointly occupy a plane other than vertical or at right angles to said wire, 8. In a paper making machine, a stock feeding inlet including a horizontally arranged plate having a bearing rod at its outeredge, arcuate racks carried by said plate and having their center of the arcs the center of said rod, a slice having arcuate bearing surfaces engaging said rod and the inner 1 arcuate sides of said racks, pinions mounted for rotation on bracket members carried by said slice "and engaging said racks, whereby the slice may be rocked for vertical swinging movement about said bearing rod and held in operative engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FORREST HILSHEIMER. 

